Interesting...who are you?

We all need to do us, not other people.  That starts with being honest about who and what you are.  And accepting it.  And loving it. 

^YES. Beautifully put.

Who I am??? This is me (when I'm trying the whole moderation thing) - used this before... but it always applies!!

Bahahaha!  Yeah, that's me.  I'm actually wearing Cookie Monster undies right now because he is my spirit animal :) 

I guess, for me, it depends on the kind of food. For the most part, I consider myself a moderator because I don't want to tell myself I can never have something again. However, I am slowly building my list of "Things I Should Completely Stay Away From".  Potato chips are number 1 on my list.  I could eat 7 bags and they would never fill me up and it would never be enough. They just make me want more. I also found out a few weeks ago that Krispy Kreme donuts are on that list.  I haven't touched those things in years but when I was staying with some relatives for a funeral, I ate two in an hour and craved them BAD for the next 3 days!!! Never EVER again!

Like Karin, I think I'm both.  I know that Reece's Peanut Butter Cups and Doritos have to be abstained from completely - they set off such an urge in me that I cannot control!  However, I am moderate with real foods - this summer I enjoyed a gourmet 7-course meal.  I got a bite or two of everything, then my brother ate the rest.  That didn't set off an urge in me to overeat my calories the next day, so I call that moderation.

Ahh, yeah, that's an interesting perspective.  I can definitely moderately eat real food.  I go to dinners frequently at really delicious restaurants, and I eat whatever I want. I prefer restaurants with small plates so I can have a variety of things. I eat until satisfied, and I don't feel compelled to overeat.  That doesn't include dessert.  Sugar is my kryptonite.  Or fake food - like Cheetos :)  Or alcohol.  Or shopping.  Or coffee.  This list of things I cannot be moderate with is nearly endless. 

I've been thinking about this quite a bit lately, based on a response that Julia made to our last discussion of the 'camps'.  I'm an abstainer at heart, so I secretly wish that I didn't have to eat all.  Now before you all cart me off to therapy, I'll clarify that I wish I didn't have to make the choices every day - in the way an alcoholic or drug or addict can just choose to abstain.  With food, it's way trickier.  Like you, Deena, I'm a sugar addict, but how can I really abstain when it's everywhere?  Or is it just about cakes and cookies?  How about flavoured Greek yogurt?  Or artifically sweentened foods?  So as Julia so rightly pointed out, I guess I'm forced to be 'moderate' by nature of having to eat to stay alive.  But I don't have to like it and I wish I could find a way to be a true 'abstainer'.  I hate the head games and they don't serve me well.  I guess to compensate for that uncertainty, I need a straightforward set of rules to use, but I can't say I have them clearly defined just yet!

We are all works in progress, now and forever.  :)  It would be much easier to simply not have to eat.  I definitely can see that. 

I'm most definitely an abstainer. My favorite line from that article was "If I never do something, it requires no self-control for me; if I do something sometimes, it requires enormous self-control." It talks about the 80/20 rule and I'm more o****5 or 98/2 person. It's just easier for me to deal with that way.  Glad you're part of the abstainers club....I'm right there with ya! Hell, it's snowing today in Mansfield, but I know summer's right around the corner (like next month) so I better stay vigilant.

(((Hugs!)))

Deb

That rang very true for me as well.  The enormous self control it takes to do something sometimes.  I try not to needlessly complicate my life since I'm so busy most of the time, and I find that trying to be moderate is needlessly complicated.  I still haven't figured out what works for me yet, but I'm willing to put in the work :)  And why is it sooooo cold?!  I don't even want to go outside!